Letters to the Editor

Displays taken too soon

Written by Diane Harm, Gothenburg
Thursday, 10 June 2010 19:42

I am writing in regard to the treatment of memorial flowers this Memorial Day at our city cemetery.

I was out of town during this time. My son put out hanging flowers on shepherd’s hooks on my husband’s and both sets of grandparents’ graves on Sunday, May 30, and went back to pick them up on Friday, June 4, only to find the flowers in the trash barrel and shepherd’s hooks gone.

The value of the flowers is not the whole problem—the value of the shepherd’s hooks is nearly $125. Why was there no notice in the paper?

I believe in the past, we were given at least one week before removing them. I realize mowing has to be done, but it could have waited until the June 7 which was one week after Memorial Day.

It makes me very sad to have this cemetery treated so disrespectfully. It is my hope that those who made this decision don’t have this happen when they leave loved ones buried there.

Honor Guard appreciated

Written by Jim Peterson, Lincoln
Wednesday, 09 June 2010 21:22

I had occasion to visit with my long time good friend, Chauncey Bates, at a wedding reception last weekend in Lincoln and it occurred to me that it was 11 years ago this week that my dad, Bill, died and was buried at a military funeral at Fort McPherson. Chauncey along with Jim Hecox, Steve Hecox, Loren Koch, Cliff Geiken, Roger Wahlgren and others to whom I apologize for leaving out here, served as members of the military Honor Guard that day of the funeral.

I just wanted to acknowledge and thank them again. It’s all volunteer and I know these guys are busy farming and whatever. Many people volunteer for various activities and causes and it’s all good. But it is especially important to a grieving family to have the Honor Guard present at a military funeral. It really means a lot.

So if you see any of the Honor Guard members thank them or buy them a cup of coffee or a beer sometime. Their military and public service continues on even if they have been officially discharged from the military.”

Cemetery rules too strict

Written by Lucile Rickertsen, Gothenburg
Wednesday, 09 June 2010 21:21

I was dismayed to read the signs at the cemetery gates with the lengthy list of rules.

The lots were paid for by people who’s loved ones lie there. The wages of the city employees are paid by the tax payers.

Don’t you think rules are a little strict for Gothenburg?

Violation to get swift response

Written by Bruce Clymer, city administrator
Thursday, 03 June 2010 19:11

I am writing in regard to a Letter of Violation the City received May 28 from Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

DHHS is charged with the responsibility of making sure that all Public Water Systems are in compliance with State and Federal regulations regarding water safety and quality. The notification received was in regard the level of arsenic in the water exceeding state limitations.

This violation occurred at the municipal well located at 16th and Avenue G. Arsenic is a metal that occurs naturally in the environment, and may occur as a by-product of some agricultural and industrial activities.

The city intends to provide notice to each customer as required by DHHS, so you should expect notification in the mail. However, I wanted to take the opportunity to inform the public this is on the City Council agenda for the council’s review and action on June 1. I realize this will letter will not be published until after the council meeting, but I am anticipating quick and decisive action by the City Council.

According to the DHHS, this violation does not require boiling, freezing, or letting water stand; which in fact may make the arsenic more concentrated. Also, according to the DHHS, you do not need to use an alternative source of water and there is no immediate risk; and that the only risk comes about after many years of exposure to arsenic at these levels.

The good news is that the well in violation has seen very limited use for many years. In fact, the well has not pumped water into the public water system for over a year. I am anticipating the City Council will provide direction to not use this well until such time as the well either is able to come into compliance; or possible abandonment of the well.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at City Hall.

Jury still out on Iraq and WMD

Written by Neil A. Davis
Wednesday, 02 June 2010 20:47

You may have read, “...the party of Lincoln...spent many hundreds of billions chasing non-existent weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.” and “...Bush and Cheney joined right in with Hitler and attacked a country under false pretenses...”

Total funding for the war in Iraq under Bush, was approximately $500 billion. President Obama has already proposed half that in Iraq and almost as much in Afghanistan. My guess is, his spending will far exceed Bush’s. Inability to understand their own fiscal policies, has prompted the current administration to announce that they won’t even propose a budget this year.

Lloyd Pohl (‘Party of Lincoln’ spent $$, April 28) wants you to believe that Bush and Cheney lied about WMD and that they resemble an insane, murdering dictator bent on world domination. He can produce evidence to support his claims.

Saddam Hussein used chemical weapons against the Iranians during the Iraq-Iran war. Some of those chemicals came from American companies. He also killed his own people (some with chemical weapons). Estimates from mass graves, suggest the total killed could be as high as 300,000. Saddam killed an estimated 1,000 Kuwaiti nationals (for oil). I think we can determine Saddam was evil.

After the first Gulf War, inspectors found weapons armed with the nerve gas VX. Saddam had hundreds of tons of yellow cake uranium. While not totally “harmful” in that state, it could have been enriched to become so. A total of 40,000 munitions for chemical weapons, 2,610 tons of chemical precursors and 411 tons of chemical agents were discovered and destroyed. I think we can determine Saddam wanted to possess WMD.

Bush decided that the war on terror should begin in Iraq. Inspection teams determined that there were no “smoking guns.” Were they able to search all 169,000 square miles of Iraq? Resistance by Saddam to comply with inspections, sent up red flags.

Most intelligence sources (not only the U.S.) were not on board with the determination of the inspectors. Dubya couldn’t start a war without the approval of Congress. Days before Operation Iraqi Freedom began, satellite images showed convoys of trucks crossing into Syria. Could the contents of those trucks be linked to a Syrian nuclear site that was destroyed by Israel four years later? Testimony by high ranking officials within Saddam’s regime point in that direction.

Personally, I think Saddam was just a ruthless thug dictator, who didn’t have the technology to make his scud missiles go where he wanted them to. But, his history showed that he wanted to be more than that. To this day, there is no concrete evidence showing whether or not Saddam possessed WMD before we invaded.

There is no proof that Bush and Cheney knew for a fact that Saddam didn’t have WMD. I think that makes Lloyd’s statements, opinion. I think the way he presented them smells of propaganda.

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